Voices Of The True Hearted

Author : Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781331570936
Total Pages : 304 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (79 download)

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Download or read book Voices of the True-Hearted (Classic Reprint) written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and published by . This book was released on 2015-07-17 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Excerpt from Voices of the True-Hearted So loud and long have the multitude chaunted the glory of low pleasures, that the voices of true-hearted men have scarcely been heard in the world's chorus. Now and then, in the interludes of passion, when a holy calm has fallen upon the spirits of all, - when the pestilence has walked at noon-day, or the power of the Most High has been otherwise vividly shown, - Truth and Holiness seemed to bear some sway in the souls and words of men. But again came the old passion: - again the old chaunt arose from city, hillside, and valley-depth; and again the voice of God in the soul, and the voices of true-hearted men were unheeded; or, if some fragments of them were caught, heeded only to be derided by those whose spirits grovelled in the dust, and knew not how glorious was the love and beauty of the Most High. One there was, ages ago, who amid scoffing - loneliness of heart - peril - death - spake out the pure truth as he received it from the Father. His was no wreath of flowers awarded by men to the noblest. And as to him was awarded a crown of thorns, - to those whose voices joined with his for love and truth, in defiance of form - custom - selfishness, like crowns were given; and soldiers who enlisted in works of darkness, - Pharisees trailing about long texts on their garments, but not in their hearts, - Sadducees living only for the present, - and the fickle mob, shouted in derision; and spit upon them, and crucified them in not less fearful Golgothas than that of old. But danger never stifled truth. In all ages some brave men have been raised up, true lovers of God, who lived only in Him, whose only fear was to neglect His will, - men who could bear the taunt calmly, who could joy in the tortures of the Inquisition, who could give up home, and parents, and children, and wife for Truth's sake. These men reasoned and exhorted and rebuked by the way side, - at the social gathering, public feast, and solemn meeting - unawed by the presence of the self-righteous or open scoffer; and wrought their good works, until many hearts beat - not for praise - not for wealth - not for power - not for showy learning, but for the pure truth spoken by Jesus, and now uttered by God in every spirit willing to heed it. On, on, on! - The voices grew as time rocked the zephyr into the hurricane. The strong soul poured forth glorious thoughts. Men became habituated to the idea and practice of high truth. The possibility of change for the better was acknowledged. Glory to God rang abroad over the earth - Io Paens, unlike the foul praises that were wont to be offered up. Some of the words of these lovers of the All-True, or echoes of them, have fallen upon my ear, and stirred up within me such free born thoughts and craving for true purity, that I cannot forbear to scatter them still more widely over the earth. Reader! they are seeds borne upon the untrammeled breezes of thought into every open heart - into thine, if thou wilt. Keep them there, and nurture them. Love them as a maiden loves the sweet flowers that grow beneath her eye, - yea, love them infinitely more - and they shall impart rich fragrance to thy whole nature, and endow thee with strength, not only in the life-giving morning, and quiet moonlight even-time, but in the heat and trial of the day, when not only a truth-loving but truth-acting heart is required of thee to do nobly thy devoir as a man and a Christian. Joyfully - oh joyfully, let us look forward to the time when the world's chorus shall be battle-cries for the right, - when blood-stained fields, with all their pomp, shall be only heard of as a tale of evil days long gone, when wealth and birth shall no more be esteemed, - when love shall be pure, not sensual, - when all shall seek their neighbors good, and the good of all mankind, as they now seek their own. Joyfully let us look forward, and with no craven heart speed the good work."